sherwood



May 15, 192s. 1,669,789

W. E. SHERWOOD ROTARY CONVEYER DUMP BOX Filed Deo. 2l. 1926 3Sheets-Sheet l SE-L w. E. sHERwooD ROTARY coNvEYER DUMP Box Flled De@ 21192e 5 Smets-snee*u 2 May 15, 1928.

VENT R ,lr g' BVM /77'7'0 NEYS,

V HTTM'ZEYS.

May 15, 1928'.

W. E. SHERWOOD RGTARY CONVEYER DUMP BOX Filed Dec. 2l. 1926 55Sheets-Shes#l 3 I NMR Patented May 15, 1928i.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROTARY CONVEYER DUMP BOX.

Application lcd December 21, 1926. Serial No. 156,131.

This inventionrelates to coal trucks and :malagous vehicles for carryingcoal, broken stone, grain and other more or less comminuted materialsand refers more particularly to the construction (rt-the box and to theineans 'for unloadingr the materials theren from.

l'n delivering materials ot this character it is found that the inletsfor the repositories for the materials are arranged at Widely nvaryinglevels relatively to the position of the vehicle and also atgrcateror less dis tauccs troni said vehicle so that in some instancestheinaterials may be discharged by gravity from the box while in othercases i it must be elevated above the normal level of the box and inorder to meet these conditions various devices have heretofore beenproposed tor raising and lowering the box to pcrrnit the `gravitydischarge of the materials into the inlet oit the repository.

This elevation ot the entire box with the load therein involves the useof expensive machinery and cmlsiderable power for its operation inaddition to the loss of time required in the necessarily slow raisingfand lowering et the box.

rlhe main object of the ypresent invention is lo construct the vehiclebox in such manner that the materials therein will zuitoinaticallygrravita'e toward the center thereof and to install in the couter of thebox a rotary conveyor ot simple construction operable preferably by themotor oi' the vehicle for automatically receiving; and conveying thematcrials from thcbottoin oi the box upwardly some distance above thetop thereof for automatic discharge .into one or the other of a pair oitlaterally extending chutes leading 'from the iop o'l the conveyor' sothat the materials may be elevated and discharged by ,irravityat eitherside olr the vehicle directly into the inlet of the repositmfy or intoother chutes leading tl'icrc'troni to said' inlets.

Another object is io provide rmeans wheres by the unloading( device maydischarge the material at lower levels at either side thereof.

il. 'further object is to provide means operable at will torcontrolling; 'the `dow of the material troni the interior ot the box tothe conve ver.

(Ether objects and uses relating to specific parts of the machine willbe brought out in the following description.

In the drawings :-f

Figure :l is a top plan of my improved dump box and conveyor therein.

Figures 2 and 3 are enlarged transverse vertical sectional views takenin the planes of lines y2 and 3M?) respectively, Figure 1. l

Figure i is an enlarged top plan of the conveyer and adjacent separateportion ol' `-/iand braces MSM, said box being rectangular in top planbut hopper-shaped so that its bottoni walls -6- and 7 incline downwardlyfrom the ends and sides to the center except that a relatively sina-llportieri as 8W at the longitudinal and transverse center of the bottoniis suliistantially flat and horizontal and rests directly upon theintermediate cross bars 4- while the inclined bottom portions aresupported directly upon the braces-5- which, in turn, are secured totheopposite end cross bars flas shown in Figure 5.

The interior oit thc box -1- is divided by longitudinally spacedtransversely extend-A ing' partitions SLd into opposite endcoinpartnients l0- and an intermediate coinpartinent H11, saidpartitions extending upwardly troni the opposite ends of the horizontalbottom portion 8m to the top et thc box and from side to sido thereof inparallel relation to torni' a housing for the rotary conveyor presentlydescribed and thereby to prevent the passage of the mate rials from thecoini'iartineuts --lO- to thc intermediate compartment llexcept ascontrolled in a manner by suitable gates as hereinafter explained.

An additional transverse partition. 42M

rfventthe passage of :the materials fromthe compartments M-'to thecompartments -13-. e

'The partitions -9- are provided with relatively small openings +l5extending :upwardly from the bottom wall 8-- to lpermit the passageofthe materials from the Gower portions ofthe compartments l0- to thelower portion of the compartment ll- .and :are `controlled by verticallyfslidable gates lt Figures 2 and 5.

These gates \-16- are guided in upright ways @1T-f, Figure .3, and each4gate is adapted to 'be opened and-closed from either side of themachine by a pair of bell crank levers 18- which are pivoted at -lSL- tolthe adjacentpartition -9- at opposite lsides of .the transverse centerthereof.

The lower arms of eachpair of bell crank levers -18- areconnected by 1a:link -20- to kthe adjacent Ygate -16- while their npper ends areconnected to suitable operating members 2lwhich extend lateral-ly in:opposite directions from the upper ends of their respective levers 18-toward and above the opposite sidewalls of the box where'they areconveniently accessible lfo-r operation.

The .gates 16 and their operating levers -l-8---.together with the links-20- .are preferably loca-ted within the compart- 4ment -ll-- where theyare protected lby the partitions -9-M against Contact with the main bodyofthe material in the 4box except as `por-tions lof the `gates -16- areexposed to such contact through the relatively small openings l5- Thelower portions of the compartment `--13 is also divided by .transversepartitions --2ld `extending upwardly from the bottom walls W7- atopposite sides of and :above the adjacent opening w16 and in equallyspaced relation to the adjacent portions of the transverse partitions-14 so :as to forni passages 2Q- for the operating belt vof Vtherota-ryconveyer mechanism, said partitions w2talso ser-ving to preventcontact of the materials passing throughthe opening- 16M with said belt.y

yIfhe bell -cranlr levers -18- of each pair are preferably connected :byseparate links "20M to theircorresponding gate w16- to compensate forthe different arcs of movement of the adjacent ends of the levers whenoperated to open and close the gate.

Rotary @0n/vagar mecha/neem.

A rotary horizontal shaft -23 is journaled in suitable bearings 2stonthe upper portions of the partitions -9-- near, but liust below the topof the box l and midway between the opposite sides of the 'box so as toextend along the longitudinal center thereof wholly between the lefthand end 'wall 9 of the compartment -l3-, Figure .5, and the ,outer endwall 1Q- of the compartment --13 so as to protect the bearings 24kfromconta-ct with .the material in the Vbox -1. i l

A hub "25M is keyed or otherwise secured to the intermediate portion ofthe shaft -28- within the compartment -13- and carries at its left handend, Figure f5, a series of7 in this instance six, radially ex tendingblades 26W arranged in uniform-ly spaced relation vcircumferentially andhaving their inner ends riveted or otherwise secured to .the hub Q5--and their intermediate portions connected tothe other end of the hubbraces *27" for holding them in tixed relation to the hub.

, These blades are substantially flat and of *.uniformarea :and arepreferably tapered .in-

wardly from their outer ends which are relatively wide as con'xparedwith their inner ends for a purpose presently described, said bladesbeing preferablymade of sheet metal and adapted to travel in the sameVertical plane ofthe box -1-.

The radial length of the blades is also .imiform and sutiicient toextend into relatively close proximity into the -opposite side walls ofthe box and also a considerable distance above the top of the `box andare utilized as a part of the means for conveying the material from thebot-tom of the compartmentupwardly above the top of said box as theshaft -23 is rotated.

"1 sprocket wheel Q8- Figures 2 and 5, is secured to the shaft --23-within the ,compartanent between the partition 1Q- and ,adjacentpantition -9- and is connected by a link belt 2.9- to relatively smallerpinions 3G-e, -31- and 32- which are secured to separate Ashafts -30-,31 and -32-. the .latter being journaled in suitable bearings on theunderside 'through connections with the vehicle motor `not shown, nornecessary to herein illustrate or describe since the means for operatingthe shaft 'forms no part of my present in- Vvention.

It is now evident that the rotation of the shaft as 31- will transmitrotary motion to the conveyer shaft 23 through the medium of the linkbelt m29- and sprocket wheel -)8-, thereby rotating the blades -26.

A circular ring 233- is riveted or otherwise secured to the outer facesof the blades -26- concentric with the axis o't the shaft- Qwsome.distance inwardly from the outer ends ol the blades and serves to holdsaid blades r rigidly in cireumterentially spaced relation and also toreceive and sup port a plmality of axially extending tie rods or spacingbolts S4-- which are bolted or otherwise secured at one end to saidringr to extend lengthwise into the co1npartlnent -l3-u between theblades -Q6 for receiving and supporting at their opposite ends a similarcircular ring and for holding said rings in axially spaced parallelrelation wholly within the comparte ment 13-.

An additional set of, in this instance six, relatively short blades 3G--are riveted or otherwise secured at their inner ends to the ring MZ-35-in opposed relation to the outer ends of the blades -26- with which theycorrespond as to circumferential width and radial' projection beyondtheir respective rings thereby forming intervening spaces for thereception ot the material between them when the gates 15e are open andthe conveyor is being,r rotated.

The rings w83- andy H S5- are each provided with a series ot' relativelyshort axially project-,ing bolt studs `-37- ttor-ming bearings for acorresponding number oitrollers -38- projecting to iard each other fromtheir respective ring/'s and arranged in uniformly spaced relationcircuinferentially between the blades n2G4 and w3G- for receiving andsupporting' :nlditional adjacent circular rings -39- concentric with andot slightly greater diameter than the rings H33- and -l5-`- These rings89 are arranged in axially spaced relation `just inside ot the adjacentblades -26- and '-36- with sufficient clearance to permit their treecircumferential movement relatively thereto and serve to receive andsupport between them a series of sweep paddles or plates -4()--corresponding; in number to the number oi blades 26" and arranged inradial planes in unifornily spaced relation circumferentially so as toextend across the space between the blades Qtiwand 36M at sul stantiallyright angles thereto tor engaging and conveyingr the material 'trom thebottom ot the compartinent -ll some dis-- tance above the top ot the box`--1.

y Suitable diagonal braces -4tl-, Figure 3, are riveted or otherwisesecured at theii` outer ends to opposite faces ofthe plates -40- andhave their inner ends riveted orV or any other suitable fastening meansto the inner faces oi the partitions --9-, Figures 3 and 5, and uponthese transverse bars are mounted a pair of 'lengthwise bars --14t#arranged at equal distances from and at opposite sides of the shaft QB#just at the outside of the path of rotation of the outer ends ol theblades m26- and W36-.

A relatively large circular drum 455w ol' sheet metal or other suitablermaterial is riveted. or otherwise secured to the inner laces of thelengthwise bars 44W concentric with the axis ot the shaft -23- with itslower side or bottom portion -8- resting upon the upper faces of thecross bars -Z--.

This drum 451- extends entirely around the outer ends of the blades 26Mand h-36- and paddle plates w40- with just sn'flicient clearance toprevent trictional contact therewith, said drum being` also extend-- edaxially some distance beyond the blades -26-M and S6- and, therefore,beyond the opposite ends of the paddle plates Ll-tlto hold the materialagainst axial displacenient while being carried upwardly from the bottom9-- to the top ot the conveyor by the plates 40- and between the bladesW26- and 3G- An inner relatively smaller stationary circular drum 4G-et' sheet metal or equivalent material is riveted or otherwise se curedto another pair ot lengthwise bars -i-7 on the cross bars w43- to holdsaid drum in concentric relation to the shaft -23-, said inner drumbeiner additionally supported by braces 48" which are connected 'to ahub t0 on the shaft 23 at the inner end ol the hub W25- as shown inFigure 57 the hub ---"tlbeing; loose on the shaft to permit the lattertoturn freely therein and through the medium ol: the braces -4t8- serving'to hold the inner drum JAS- concentric with the shaft,

rthis drinn -1l-G- extends endwise across the inner edges ot theconveyer plates ftlland also across the inner faces of the bars--3ftbetween but in close proximity to the inner 4faces ot the blades26- and -ltlw with j ust sutlicient clearance to avoidL 'lriction withthose parts. y

The object ot this inner drum 4(3- 1s to prevent inwardly displacement;ot the ina-- vterial as it is carried upwardly from the bottom 8M aroundthe periphery of the drum by the conveyor plates 4U- ,Apontfion ot theperipheral length of the inner ydrum 4:6 .at'fthe top thereof is cutaway to iorm an opening 50 through which lthe material which is carriedupwardly .around the periphery ot the drum by the conreyer plates 40 isdischarged on to an urulerlying axially inclined extern sion .chute 5lof a main chute 52- which centrally supported'upon and secured yto -ftheupper edge oi the partitirui --l2 y Figure 5, the extension 5l beingv:additionally siujufiortcd by a brace 53 on the hub ll9 The main `chute52 is locatedr at `one end fot' 'the eon'vcyer housing and is providedywith opposite laterally and downwardly e;- tending inclined branches5t-- resting .upon the upper edges Ot opposite sides ot the boi; 1 asshown in Figure Qfitor discharging the material `by gravity to either:side .of the box. f

For .this latter ,purpose the conveyor includ-ing vthe blades 2G- and36- and pilates 4i0 is rotatable in reverse directions by any suitablemechanism connected tothe shaft- 3'l not necessary to herein illustrateVor describe.

This reverse motion, however, ot the con` reyer, 't lien in connectionwith the resist--v ance` of v.the material contacting with the plates 40is utilized to automatically shift ythe ring 39 and yplates /lO carriedthereby from normal registration with vone edge of the blades 26 andS6-- `to Ithe opposite edges ol the same blades and 'to stop the angularmovement of the ring` 9 when the plates i0 are registered with one orthe other edges ot the blades Q@ iand 36 so as to iorin pockets betweenthe blades with the plates at the 'backs of the pockets, f

For this :pur-pose the 'bolts Sdconnecting the opposite rings 33 and arearranged in pairs, those ot each pair being located at opposite edges oteach set ot blades Q6 and 36 while the ring C'l9 is provided with aplurality ot pairs oit circum-'ferentially spaced stops 55 those of eachpair being arranged at opposite sides of the adjacent conveyer plates4:0 1to project inwardly between the correspond-ing pairs of bolts Mwhereby as ihe conveyer is rotated in either direction the engagement ofany one ot the conveyor plates t with the fuel will cause the ring 39with the conreyer plates fO thereon to shift circumferentially in theopposite direction until limited by the engagement ot' the .neareststops 55- with the adjacent bolts 34t This limitation of thecircumferential movement of the conveyer plates 1i-Q will cause thelatter to convey the material in the direction oit rotation of saidconreyer from the bottom 8 of the compartment ll upwardly between theouter and inner drums 4t-5 and M until said material discharged throughthe opening M on to the extension chute 5l from which it passes bygravity in to the iaiain chute 52 i Lbuiiable means is provided tordeflecting the material delivered from the extension -l ou the extension--52 to either of the branch chutes 54 and tor this purpose isyprof'ided a deilecting plate 56 F gare which is adapted to be attachedto and ren'ioredA :from either one ot a pair of hooks 57 on oppositesides of the extension 5l Figures 2 and y n For example, it' thematerial to be delivered -into the left hand branch chute 5-l Figure 2,the deflector plate .5G- will be attached to the right hand bool; 57-with its tree cud resting upon theupper portion .ot the bottom of theleit hand chute.

Un the other hand` if the material is to be ilischargedv into the righthand branch the detlector plate will be detached. by hand roni the letthand hook 57 :and attached to the right. hand hook with its free endresting upon the upper portion oi the bottom oft the 'brauch or aVreverse portion from that show-n in Figure 2.

lt is sometimes desirable or necessary to discharge the material at a.lower level and close to one side or the other ot the vehicle and forthis purpose the lower portions or opposite sides of the outer drum l5are provided with openings 58 and suitable closures 59 hinged tov swingoutwardly and downwardly from their closed ,position so as to rest indownwardly and outwardly inclined planes when open to form guides alongwhich the material may be discharged .into an additional chute 60 shownby dotted lines in Figure 3, said doors being held in their closedpositions by locking members 61 Figure 3.

Operation.

Assuming that the boX 1 lill ed with coal or other material capable oftgravitating along its inclined bottom toward `the open! ings l5 in theend wallsof the compartment l1 and that the shaft 23 carrying the rings33 and B5- and con- Veyer blades 26 and 36 and plates l0 are beingrotated.

Then, by opening one or the other or both oit the gates 1G will allowthe material to pass through the opening oropenings into thecon'ipartment- 11 where it will be carried upwardly between the blades26 and 36 by the conveyor plates due to the engagen'ient'of the bolts Mwith the adjacentstops It it `is desired to discharge the material inthe lower level the corresponding door 59- will be opened to permit thedischarge of the material through the opening -58-- On the other hand,it it is desired to discharge the material at a higher level both of thedoors 59- will be opened and locked whereupon the material will be canried upwardly to the top of the inner druin -4L6- where it will bedischarged through the openii'ig M50- into the chute --5l-M and thenceiroin said chute into the inain chute w52um and' through one or theother oif its branches W51. according to the adjustment oi.' thedeitlecting plate -56.

iI' the direction of rotation of the conveyor is reversed the ring $9gand plates a0- earried thereby will be sliiiftedcirei'ii'i'iiferentially until limited by the engagement of stops -5-with the opposite posts 3a-M at which "time the plates --LO- will beregi stored at opposite edges olf the blades -26'- and -3G`-- ready :tora repetition oi'Y the operation previously described.

What l claiin is tl. A device for unloading n'iaterials Afrom containerscomprising inner and outer circular drnnis arranged in concentricradially spaced relation about a horizontal axis, means for feeding theniaterial to be con- `veyed :into said space below the axis, a con--'veyer having carriers inovable circnin'l'erentially ol and `within saidspace 'tor feeding the niaterial therethrough troni the bottoni to thetop of the inner drinn, and iiieans toi' rotating the conveyor.

il. A device il'ior unloading materials troni containers con'iprising acircular drinn conv centric with a horizontal axis and provided with anopening .in its upper side, a con* veyer having carriers movableoircnn'iilhrentially around and in close proximity to the periphery otthe drinn, ineans for feeding the material. to be conveyed into the pathot n'ioveinent olf the carriers below the axis ot the drinn, and nieansfor rotating the conveyer lor carrying the inaterial circumferentiallyaround the drinn from the underside to the opening in the 'top thereof.

il. An unloading device or the character described as in claim Q, inwhich the con veyer is surrounded by a circular drinn concentric withthe l'iist-naiiied drum and pio vided with an opening below said axisand a closure movable to and from a position across the opening` ifi roun rter An unloading device of the character described as in claiin 2 inwhich an axiallyextending chute projects into one end of the drinnbei'ieath 'the opening in the top thereot' for receiving the materialdischarged into said opening by the conveyor.

5. An unloading device ot the character described as in claim l :inwhich the inner drinn is provided with an opening in its top 'torreceiving the material conveyed thereto by the conveyor, the outer drinnbeing provided with openings in opposite sides thereof andin ay planebelow the opening .in the top oil lthe inner drum and closures :for theoprnin'gs in lli/e outer drinn hiiiged to swing irdly and downwardlyfrom their closed positions te vallow the discharge of the materialthrigiugli either ol the last-named o'ipicnings. i

(i. An unloading device oi' the character described, coniprising arotary support i'evolnble about a horizontal, axis, blades secured tothe support in opposed axially spaced :lation to rotate therewith, anadnial support adjustable about said axis V led with paddle platesniovable opposed blades olf the {first-named support, means ilorYfeeding material to be conveyed lieirfeen the opposed blades below a sas the conveyor is rotated to be d by the paddle plates upwardly andx`ntially thereby, the second-named support being adapted 'to be movedcircuncil'erentialfly a liinited distance by contact of he paddle plateswith. the material, ineans vlor lii,.'ting the angular n'iovenient ofthe sec(unlfnanied support to register the paddle plates with dilierentportions of the blades or the iirstoianaal support as the eonveyer isrotated in reverse directions, and means 'lor rotating the conveyer.

i. An unloading device of the character ibed as in claim 2 in which achute ex-I i ils into one end oit the drinn beneath the opening in thetop thereof and is prol vided willi opposite downwardly inclinedbi-earlier@ and a detlector plate movable to reverseiy incliiiedpositions adjacent the iunctionoi the opposite branches of the chute-for deiiecining the material into each branch.

ln witnei-ia whereof; l have hereunto set my hand this 141th day oli'December, 1926u WILLIAM E. sHERWoOn

